Up First from NPR

When Chatbots Play Human

57 snips
Feb 9, 2025
The rise of chatbots like Meta's Liv raises questions about their human-like qualities and the implications for identity. As users form emotional bonds with these AI, the risks of dependence and misinterpretation of empathy are explored. The podcast delves into the challenges of distinguishing AI accuracy, cultural representation, and the duality of experiences in interactions with these technologies. Listeners are prompted to consider the impact of these relationships on real human connections and mental health.
Ask episode
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
ANECDOTE

Meta's Chatbot Liv

  • Karen Atiyah noticed people sharing conversations with Meta's chatbot, Liv.
  • Liv's profile presented inconsistencies, claiming different racial backgrounds and family structures to different users.
INSIGHT

How Chatbots Work

  • Large language models like Liv are statistical engines, computing language patterns.
  • Truthful statements from these models are coincidental, as they predict words based on probability, not factual accuracy.
ANECDOTE

Liv's Stereotypical Responses

  • Liv's responses to Atiyah about celebrating Black heritage included stereotypes like collard greens and Kwanzaa.
  • Atiyah found this reductive and unsettling, calling it "digital blackface."
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
Get the app